Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
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About
The Central West Hospital and Health Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Team provide a range of culturally sensitive education and health care services to health care providers, individuals and communities within the Central West.
The role of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team is to:
- Promote accessibility to culturally appropriate health services.
- Advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
- Assist in health education and community engagement.
- Boost understanding and skills to encourage self – management.
- Train CWHHS staff to deliver health services in a culturally respectful and appropriate manner.
- Liaise with other providers, including government and non – government organisations, in coordinating relevant services.
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First Nations Health Equity Strategy
First Nations Health Equity StrategyQueensland Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Hospital and Health services are developing strategic plans to deliver health services in a fair and equitable way.This is called health equity.
To achieve this, the health system must deliver culturally responsive, equitable and appropriate care, no matter where you live.
Involving local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and partner health organisations is an important part of this process.
The working draft document of the First Nations Health Equity Strategy is now available. The draft version of the strategy is being made available for the purposes of open feedback and will undergo text and design amendments.
Input into the ongoing development of the First Nations Health Equity Strategy can be provided by:
- Email: theoni.whyman@health.qld.gov.au
- Phone: 4652 8034
Central West Hospital and Health Service is thankful for and acknowledges the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and all communities of the Central West that are providing input into the First Nations Health Equity Strategy.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Programs
Indigenous Respiratory Outreach CareThe Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care (IROC) is a Queensland Health Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network initiative hosted by The Prince Charles Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service. The program is funded under the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes.
The IROC Program aims to:
- Provide a multidisciplinary specialist respiratory outreach service for, and improve respiratory health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (adult and paediatric) in rural, remote and urban locations in Queensland.
- Enhance local capacity for managing lung disease in identified sites in Queensland.
IROC provides a culturally safe specialist respiratory outreach service which includes:
- lung health checks
- point-of-care chronic lung disease management
- treatment
- referrals to other health providers
- education.
The IROC team is made up of respiratory physicians, respiratory nurses, respiratory scientists and Indigenous Project Officers from across the state.
Indigenous Cardiac Outreach ProgramThe Cardiac Outreach Program is a specialist cardiac outreach services providing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in rural and remote communities in Queensland.
ICOP aims to raise awareness of cardiac diseases through community engagement, education, partnerships with local health providers, training and research.
ICOP provides a culturally safe specialist cardiac outreach service which includes:
- point-of-care chronic cardiac disease management
- treatment
- referrals to other health providers
- education.
How to Access These ProgramsSee your local health worker or doctor to make an appointment with the IROC or ICOP teams. If you can’t make it on the day please let your local health worker know and rebook for the next clinic.
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Cultural Practice Program
Cultural Practice ProgramCultural capability, like clinical capability is an ongoing journey of continuous individual learning and organisational improvement.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Practice Program is conducted as a workshop and is Queensland Health’s foundational program. It provides staff with increased understanding of the links between health and cultures.
It aims to develop the cultural skills of all staff, recognising that every person across Queensland health plays a vital role in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Closing the Gap
Closing the GapClosing the Gap is a Government Strategy that aims to reduce disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with respect to life expectancy, child mortality, access to early childhood education, educational achievement and employment outcomes.
The Closing the Gap commitments require reflection upon the past and a collective understanding that improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health is everyone’s business. Cultural capability, just like clinical capability, is an ongoing journey of continuous individual learning and organisation improvement; service delivery must be culturally and clinically responsive if we are to close the gap in the life expectancy.
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List of Traditional Owners
List of Traditional OwnersLocation Traditional Owners Boulia
Pitta Pitta (Pit-ta Pit-ta) / Wangkamana (Wang-kam-ana)
Bedourie
Wankamalda (wanka-malda)
Birdsville
Wangkangurru (Wangk-an-gurru) / Yarluyandi (Yalu-yandi)
Windorah
Mithaka (Mith-aka)
Aramac
Barcaldine
Isisford
Jericho
Jundah
Longreach
Muttaburra
Stonehenge
Yaraka
Iningai (In-in-guy)
Winton
Koa / Guwa (goa)
Blackall
Tambo
Bidjara (Bid-jar-ra)
Alpha
Wangan (Wan-gan) / Jagalingou (Jag-a-lingoo)
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Resources
Resources- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Significant Dates
- Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (QG)
- Closing the Gap Performance Report
- Australian Government Department of Health – Indigenous Health
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013 – 2023
- Implementation Plan for the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013 - 2023
- National Framework for Health Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families
- Queensland Government Reconciliation
- Queensland Health – Indigenous Health
- Queensland Health – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identification
We would like to pay our respects to the First Peoples, traditional custodians of the land and waterways and thank the custodians who act on behalf of their Peoples for their continued hospitality across the expanse of the health service. We acknowledge and celebrate the continuation of a living culture that has a unique role in the Central West Hospital and Health Service area. We also acknowledge Elders past and present as well as emerging leaders of tomorrow, and thank them for their wisdom and guidance as we seek to improve healthcare outcomes for all our population.